Shovel



No. 750,413. PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904. G. THOMPSON.

SHOVEL.

APPLIOATION FILED 00124, 1903.

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i atented January 526, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE THOMPSON, OFVINCENNES, INDIANA.

SHOVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 50,413, dated. January 26, 1904.

Application filed October 24,1903. Serial N5. 178,303. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known-that I, GEORGE THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the town of Vincennes, in the county of Knox and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shovels, of which the following is a specification.

Economy in the use of wood is always in these days a desideratum. Economy in any of the operations of a manufacture is also a desirable thing.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to effect a saving in wood.

Another of such objects is to economize in the operation of making the hand portion and of the shank of the shovel-handle.

A third principal object is to provide a new and effective construction for enabling the hand portion or bow end of the handle and the shank when made in two pieces to be united in a novel and very efficient manner.

Other objects of my invention will hereinafter appear.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

Iwill now describe my invention in detail. In the accompanying drawlngs, making a part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the upper portion of .a handle, illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal central section taken in a plane which passes through the bow endc'. 6., upper end-of the handle from edge to edge and through the axial center of the shank or rounded portion of the handle, which latter extends from the bow end to the scoop or plate at the other or lower end of the shovel. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, on a diminished scale, of a shovel embodying the features of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A indicates generally the bow end .of the shovel. The bow end is of wood and consists of the main portion A and the side extensions A A one on each side, extending from the main portion A of the handle to the transverse part or grip-piece At An opening A is formed in the handle, and this aids in forming the grip-piece A at the one end and the main portion A opposite to this grip-piece.

'The grip-piece A is rounded, as shown, to afwhich connected the handle A to the shovel or scoop-piece at the opposite end of the shovel. The handle and shank have been in one piece.

In the manufacture of this handle and shank out of one piece of wood there is obviously of necessity a great waste, because thehandle is wide and the shank narrow and much wood must be cut away to form the finished article of handle integral with the shank ready for the attachment thereto of the shovel or scooppiece. My invention serves to economize this waste and at the same time to present a handle stronger than the one described where the enlarged handle end A and the shank are in one.

I form the handle A as specified, to wit: I provide the main part A and the grip-piece A and the side extensions A in one piece; but I do not stop there. I form on the lower end of the handle a short shank B, preferably of about one and three-quarters inches in length. All of these partsnamely, the main portion A the grip-piece Afi side-pieces A and the shank-point B-are of wood and in one piece. The remainder O of the shank is formed of another piece of wood. As this shank O is comparatively slim- Z. e. of small diameter it can be made out of small thin pieces of wood either out for the purpose or left over from other manufacture. The lower end of this shankC is duly connected to the shovel or scoop-piece at the lower end of the shovel.

The short shank B, I provide while having in view new and eificient means of connection between the bow-handle A and the shank O, and the short shank B performs a valuable function in this connection. These means consist of a ferrule D, preferably of metal. This ferrule D is adapted at its upper end to receive the short shank B and at its lower end to receive the upper end of the shank O. The adjacent ends of the shanks B and C preferably touch each other. From the upper end of this ferrule D, I extend side extensions or straps D and carry these, respectively, up the adjacent edge of the part A of the bow-handle. There are in the ordinary Wooden bow-handle made in one with the entire shank below two bolts. The upper one, E, passes through the grippiece A, and its functions are to prevent this grip A from splitting into pieces and to keep the sides A A close to and in one with the grip-piece. The bolt E is preferably at each end provided with a washer, and the head of the bolt is there spread (by the riveting process) 'upon the outer part of the adjacent washer. The lower bolt or rod F preferably a rod, passes through the main portion A of the bow-handle and secured in position by proper means serves to hold the latter in shape and prevent it from being split. It isthis latter rod F that I utilize not only for the aforementioned purpose, but also for holding the upper ends of these straps or extensions D D of the ferrule close to the bow-handle and in their proper position relative to this bow-handle. This rod goes through not only the bowhandle part A but through these side extensions D Thus the rod performs a double function. This rod F is duly riveted at each end outside of the extensions D D and thus the parts mentioned are held securely in place.

The shank extension B prevents the bowhandle A from oscillation relatively to the ferrule D and constitutes the lower brace, while the rod F constitutes the upper brace, whereby, in connection with the extensions, the handle-piece A is held firmly and rigidly to the ferrule D.

The upper end of the long shank C is held in the ferrule D, so that it cannot slip out from it. The preferred means for thus keeping it within said ferrule is the pin or bolt 0 extending through the shank and through the opposite sides of the ferrule and riveted at the ends to keep it from slipping out of position.

This entire construction is economical of cost in construction and enables a great saving of valuable wood to be effected. The resultant shovel is very eflicient and very durable.

It will be understood that this construction can be applied to implements other than shovelsthat is to say, it is applicable to implements where a wooden bow handle and a wooden shank are required.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an implement, the wooden bow-handle, provided with the short extension wooden shank B integral therewith, and the separate long wooden shank O, the ferrule D embracing the short shank B and the upper portion of the shank C, the ferrule having the extensions against the adjacent edges of the handlepiece A and means for securing the long shank to the ferrule, and the extensions to the bow-handle, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an implement, the wooden bowhandle, provided with the short extension wooden shank B integral therewith, and the separate long wooden shank C, the ferrule D embracing the short shank B and the upper portion of the shank C, the ferrule having the extensions against the adjacent edges of the handlepiece A and means for securing the long shank to the ferrule end, the bolt F connecting the extensions and the handle-pieceA substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3'. In an implement, the wooden bow-handle, provided with the short extension wooden shank B integral therewith, and the separate long wooden shank C, the ferrule D embracing the short shank B and the upper portion of the shank C, the ferrule having the extensions against the adjacent edges of the handlepiece A the rod F connecting the extensions and the handle-piece, and the bolt C connecting the ferrule and the long shank, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. THOMPSON.

Attest:

F. A. THoMrsoN, ANGUs GAINEs. 

